SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
Exhibit (d)(3)
SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT made this 4th day of January, between PNC Capital Advisors,
LLC (the “Adviser”), a Delaware limited liability company, on behalf of The Allegiant Funds
(“Trust”) a Massachusetts business trust, and GE Asset Management Incorporated (the “Sub-Adviser”),
an investment adviser having its principal place of business in Stamford, Connecticut.
WHEREAS, the Adviser serves as investment adviser to the Trust, a multiple series, registered
open-end, management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the
“1940 Act”) pursuant to an Advisory Agreement dated January 4, 2010 (“Advisory Agreement”);
WHEREAS, the Trust operates pursuant to the conditions in its Manager-of-manager Order from
the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC File No. 27596) (“Order”);
WHEREAS, the Adviser has agreed to provide certain investment advisory duties under the
Advisory Agreement and the Adviser is permitted to delegate certain of its investment advisory
duties under the Advisory Agreement and consistent with the Order; and
WHEREAS, the Adviser desires to retain the Sub-Adviser to furnish investment advisory services
to the International Equity Fund, an investment portfolio of the Trust (the “Fund”) and may retain
the Sub-Adviser to serve in such capacity, and the Sub-Adviser represents that it is willing and
possesses legal authority to so furnish such services without violation of applicable laws and
regulations;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants herein contained, it is
agreed between the parties hereto as follows:
1. Appointment. Adviser hereby appoints the Sub-Adviser to act as sub-adviser to the Fund
as permitted by the Adviser’s Advisory Agreement with the Trust pertaining to the Fund for the
period and on the terms set forth in this Agreement and consistent with the Order. It is
understood that the Adviser may assign a portion of or none of the assets of the Fund (the “Fund
Account”) to the Sub-Adviser, and that the Adviser has the right to allocate and reallocate such
assets to the Fund Account at any time, and from time to time, upon such notice to the Sub-Adviser
as, in the Adviser’s opinion, may be reasonably necessary to ensure orderly management of the Fund.
The Sub-Adviser accepts such appointment and agrees to furnish the services herein set forth for
the compensation herein provided.
2. Sub-Advisory Services. Subject to the supervision of the Trust’s Board of Trustees, the
Sub-Adviser will assist the Adviser in providing a continuous investment program for the Fund,
including investment research and management with respect to all securities and investments, and
cash equivalents to the extent applicable, in the Fund Account. The Sub-Adviser may determine what
securities and other investments will be purchased, retained or sold by the Trust for the Fund
Account, including with the assistance of the Adviser, the Fund Account’s investments in futures
and forward currency contracts; manage in consultation with the Adviser
the Fund Account’s temporary investments in securities; and manage the Fund Account’s overall cash
position, and determine from time to time what portion of the Fund Account’s assets will be
held in different currencies. The Sub-Adviser will provide the services under this Agreement in accordance
with the Fund’s investment objectives, policies, and restrictions as stated in the Prospectus and
resolutions of the Trusts’s Board of Trustees. The Sub-Adviser acknowledges that the Adviser and
the Trust may rely on Rules 17a-7, 17a-10, 10f-3 and 17e-1 under the 1940 Act, and the Sub-Adviser
hereby agrees that it shall not consult with any other investment adviser to the Trust with respect
to transactions in securities for the Fund Account or any other transactions in the Trust’s assets,
other than for the purposes of complying with the conditions of paragraphs (a) and (b) of Rule
12d3-1 under the 1940 Act.
3. Brokerage. The Sub-Adviser shall select brokers and dealers for any purchase or sale of
assets of the Fund Account and is hereby directed to obtain for the Fund Account in such
transactions “best price and best execution.” Consistent with the foregoing and to the extent
permitted by the 1940 Act, the Sub-Adviser may, in the allocation of portfolio brokerage business
and the payment of brokerage commissions, consider the brokerage and research services furnished
the Sub-Adviser by brokers and dealers, in accordance with the provisions of Section 28(e) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. In no instance will portfolio securities be purchased
from or sold to an affiliated person of the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser, or any affiliated person of
the Company, the Adviser or the Sub-Adviser, except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act and the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).
4. Covenants by Sub-Adviser. The Sub-Adviser agrees that with respect to the services
provided to the Company, it:
(a) | will use the same skill and care in providing such services as it uses in providing services to its other accounts for which it has investment responsibilities and will act with the care, skill, prudence and diligence under the circumstances then prevailing that a prudent man acting in a like capacity and familiar with such matters would use in the conduct of an enterprise of a like character and with like aims; | ||
(b) | will conform with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC under the 1940 Act, and in addition, will conduct its activities under this Agreement in accordance with any applicable regulations of any governmental authority pertaining to the investment advisory activities of the Sub-Adviser; | ||
(c) | will be responsible for taking action with respect to any voluntary corporate actions, proxies, notices, reports and other communications relating to any of the Fund Account’s portfolio securities, except that to the extent the Adviser instructs the Sub-Adviser to vote proxies on behalf of the Fund Account, such proxies will be voted pursuant to the Sub-Adviser’s proxy voting policy and any such reports will be provided in a standardized format. In addition, the Sub-Adviser will bear no responsibility in connection with class actions relating to the Fund or Fund Account’s portfolio securities, including filing proofs of claims, but shall promptly notify the Adviser to the extent the Sub-Adviser is made aware of such a class action with respect to the Fund or Fund Account; |
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(d) | will maintain all books and records with respect to the securities transactions of the Fund Account, will furnish the Adviser and Trust’s Board of Trustees with such periodic and special reports as the Adviser or the Board may reasonably request with respect to the Fund Account, and will provide in advance to the Adviser all reports to the Trust’s Board of Trustees for examination and review within a reasonable time prior to the Trust’s Board meetings; | ||
(e) | will treat confidentially and as proprietary information of the Trust all records and other information relative to the Trust and the Fund, the respective portfolio holdings, and prior, present, or potential shareholders, and will not use such records and information for any purpose other than performance of its responsibilities and duties hereunder, except after prior notification to and approval in writing by the Trust, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld and may not be withheld where the Sub-Adviser may be exposed to civil or criminal contempt proceedings for failure to comply, when requested to divulge such information by duly constituted authorities, or when so requested by the Trust; | ||
(f) | will attend regular business and investment-related meetings with the Trust’s Board of Trustees and the Adviser if requested to do so by the Trust and/or the Adviser; and | ||
(g) | in providing the services described in this Agreement, the Sub-Adviser will not consult with any other investment advisory firm that provides investment advisory services to the Fund or any other investment company sponsored by the Adviser regarding transactions for the Fund in securities or other assets, except as permitted by applicable law. |
5. Sub-Adviser’s Representations. The Sub-Adviser hereby represents and warrants that it
(i) is duly registered with the SEC as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of
1940, as amended; and (ii) that it is willing and possesses all requisite legal authority to
provide the services contemplated by this Agreement without violation of applicable law and
regulations.
6. Delivery of Documents. The Adviser has furnished the Sub-Adviser with the Fund’s most
recent Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, as presently in effect, and all
amendments and supplements thereto. The Adviser will furnish the Sub-Adviser from time to time,
with copies of all amendments of or supplements to the foregoing. The Sub-Adviser agrees to
furnish to the Adviser and the Trust such information with regard to its affairs as each may
reasonably request.
7. Books and Records. In compliance with the requirements of Rule 31a-3 under the 1940
Act, the Sub-Adviser hereby agrees that all records that it maintains for the Fund are the property
of the Trust and further agrees to surrender promptly to the Trust any of such records upon the
Company’s request. The Sub-Adviser further agrees to preserve for the periods prescribed by Rule
31a-2 under the 1940 Act the records required to be maintained by Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act.
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8. Compensation. For the services provided and the expenses assumed pursuant to this
Agreement, the Sub-Adviser will be entitled to a fee, computed daily and payable quarterly,
from the Adviser, calculated at the annual rate as follows: 0.55% on average net assets up to
$50,000,000; 0.50% on second $50,000,000; 0.45% on third $50,000,000 and 0.40% on average net
assets in excess of $150,000,000
9. Expenses. The Sub-Adviser will pay all expenses incurred by it in connection with its
activities under this Agreement other than the cost of securities, and other investments (including
brokerage commissions and other transaction charges, if any) purchased for the Fund Account.
10. Limitation of Liability. In the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross
negligence or reckless disregard in the performance of its duties, the Sub-Adviser shall not be
liable for any action or omission in the course of, or connected with, rendering services
hereunder. The Adviser shall hold the Sub-Adviser harmless for any loss suffered as a consequence
of any action or inaction of any other service provider to the Fund or Account in failing to
observe the instructions of the Adviser or the Sub-Adviser and for any losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or litigation (including legal and other reasonable expenses) arising out of or based
on registration statements, shareholder reports, proxy materials, sales literature or other
materials pertaining to the Fund. For the avoidance of doubt, it is agreed that the relative
investment performance of the Fund Account shall not constitute a breach by the Sub-Adviser of
these obligations. In the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless
disregard in the performance of its duties, the Adviser shall not be liable for any action or
omission in the course of, or connected with this Agreement. Subject to the foregoing limitations,
the Sub-Adviser shall hold the Adviser harmless (including costs and expenses and associated
attorney’s fees) from and against any claim made involving the conduct of the Sub-Adviser.
11. Duration and Termination.
(a) | This Agreement will become effective as of the date first written above, and will continue for an initial two-year term and will continue thereafter so long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually (a) by the vote of a majority of the Trust’s Trustees who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons of any such party, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval, and (b) by the Board of Trustees or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust. | ||
(b) | This Agreement may be terminated at any time without the payment of any penalty, on sixty (60) days prior written notice by the Sub-Adviser or by the Adviser or by a vote of the Trust’s Board of Trustees or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. | ||
(c) | This Agreement will immediately terminate in the event of its assignment. As used in this Agreement, the terms “majority of the outstanding voting securities”, “interested persons” and “assignment” shall have the same meanings as ascribed to such terms in the 1940 Act. |
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12. Notice. Any notice, advice or report to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be
delivered or mailed to:
If to the Adviser:
PNC Capital Advisors, LLC
Attn: Xxx Xxxxx
000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Xxx Xxxxx
000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
With a copy to:
The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.
Attn: Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Esq.
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Esq.
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
If to the Sub-Adviser:
GE Asset Management
Attn: General Counsel
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attn: General Counsel
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
13. Services Not Exclusive. The services furnished by the Sub-Adviser hereunder are deemed
not to be exclusive, and nothing in this Agreement shall (i) prevent the Sub-Adviser or any
affiliated person (as defined in the 0000 Xxx) of the Sub-Adviser from acting as investment adviser
or manager for any other person or persons, including other management investment companies with
investment objectives and policies the same as or similar to those of the Fund or (ii) limit or
restrict the Sub-Adviser or any such affiliated person from buying, selling or trading any
securities or other investments (including any securities or other investments which the Fund is
eligible to buy) for its or their own accounts or for the accounts of others for whom it or they
may be acting; provided, however, that the Sub-Adviser agrees that it will not undertake any
activities which, in its reasonable judgment, will adversely affect the performance of its
obligations to the Fund under this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing does not
in any way limit the Sub-Adviser’s ability to provide investment advisory or subadvisory services
to another investment vehicle with similar investment objectives to the Fund.
14. Amendment of this Agreement. No provision of this Agreement may be changed, waived,
discharged or terminated orally, but only by an instrument in writing signed by the party against
which enforcement of the change, waiver, discharge or termination is sought. No amendment of this
Agreement for which approval by the outstanding voting securities of the Fund is required under the
1940 Act shall be effective until approved by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting
securities of the Fund.
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15. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and its provisions shall be
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware.
16. Severability. If any provisions of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a
court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected
thereby, and to this extent, the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to be severable.
17. Captions. The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference
only and in no way define or delimit any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect their
construction or effect.
18. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.
* * *
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument to be executed by their
officers designated below as of the day and year first above written.
PNC CAPITAL ADVISORS, LLC |
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By: | Xxxxx XxXxxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxx XxXxxxxxx | |||
Title: | President | |||
GE ASSET MANAGEMENT INCORPORATED |
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By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | |||
Title: | President and CEO – GE Mutual Funds | |||
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